Richmond Public Library goes all out for National Library Week

If you’ve been meaning to swing by your local library branch, next week gives you plenty of reasons to finally do it.

Richmond Public Library is celebrating National Library Week from April 19 through 25 with a lineup of programs built around this year’s theme, “Community Starts at My Library.” The week features storytimes with the library’s mascot Ripple, self-guided bookmark-making stations at every location, daily Spirit Week themes, and the debut of new library merchandise.

The centerpiece is Ripple Storytime, where families can read, dance, and snap photos with the library system’s mascot at nine branches across the city. The schedule stretches from Sunday through Saturday, hitting Main Library on April 19 at 3:30 p.m., East End on April 20 at 11 a.m., Broad Rock that same evening at 5:30 p.m., Hull Street on April 21 at 10:30 a.m., Ginter Park and Belmont on April 22, Westover Hills and North Avenue on April 23, and West End closing things out on April 25 at 10:30 a.m.

Beyond the storytimes, every branch will have creative stations set up during regular hours where visitors can make their own bookmarks. Spirit Week runs all week with daily themes including “Favorite Genre Day,” “Shelfie Day,” and “Library Love Day,” giving patrons a chance to show off their reading personality.

Starting April 19, the library is also giving away free “Community Starts at My Library” yard signs at all locations while supplies last. New merchandise featuring both the “Community Starts at My Library” branding and a “You Otter Read” line will be available for purchase online, with proceeds going back to support the library system.

Full event details are available at rvalibrary.org/events/national-library-week.